Oil tanker driver killed in highway fire
IPOH: An oil tanker driver was burnt to death in an accident involving three heavy vehicles near Slim River.
Two of the vehicles, the tanker and another lorry, burst into flames during the 9am incident yesterday.
Muallim OCPD Supt Wan Kamarul Azran Wan Yusof said it took place at KM372 of the NorthSouth Expressway.
The identity of the tanker driver has yet to be revealed. He is believed to be working for a company in Sungai Buloh.
Supt Wan Kamarul Azran said the accident involved the tanker, lorry and a trailer.
He said initial investigations showed that the 45-year-old trailer driver who was transporting iron had stopped in the emergency lane due to brake problems.
The lorry driver, from the same company and who was also transporting iron, stopped to help the trailer driver.
The 34-year-old driver then got back into the lorry to continue his journey, when he saw the tanker approaching.
The tanker hit the back of the lorry, causing the vehicle to hit the rear of the trailer.
The impact caused the tanker and the lorry to burst into flames, killing the tanker driver.
Both the lorry and trailer drivers escaped unhurt.
The accident caused a 4km-long traffic jam as firemen cordoned off the area to put out the fire.